Drunk Monk Challenge - March 10 and 11th!! (fwd)

Greetings, beer judges!! This is a little note to let you know, if you haven't already heard, that the 8th Annual UKG Drunk Monk Challenge is fast approaching!! The DMC is an AHA sanctioned competition, a qualifying event for the MCAB (Master Championship of Amateur Brewing), and a leg of Midwest Homebrewer of the Year. It's always a lot of fun - and we're hoping that you might be able to help us out this year with judging and/or entries! The competition typically pulls in 400-500 entries, so it is a good sized one, and we need a good number of judges. Last year we had more than 550 entries - a record for our competition! Now, of course the question arises - "Why" should I go all the way over to Aurora, IL to judge a beer competition for these guys?? Valid question! Here's why! We really treat our judges right! We have beds for brewers, the traditional "Gumbofest" party the night before the competition where one can consume to their hearts content, special DMC glassware for all judges and stewards, good food for breakfast and lunch the day of judging, a fantastic raffle (last year's raffle was the largest ever seen!), and of course great camaraderie and cheer. We really appreciate your dedication of time and effort to help us out, and we want to make sure that you don't go away disappointed! So - if this has piqued your curiosity and you are interested in judging at the DMC, please contact me by e-mail at jformanek(a)griffithlaboratories.com, or by phone at (630) 378-4694. We will need to know your current BJCP experience level; what styles you are entering in the competition (if any); and any styles you would prefer to judge (or not judge). Thanks. More details on the competition! In addition to the 2004 BJCP categories of beer, mead, and cider, we'll once again feature our own special category, the Menace of the Monastery, for beer styles with roots in the monastic brewing traditions of Belgium and Germany: Belgian blonde, dubbel, tripel, pale, strong golden, and strong dark ales, plus German doppelbock. This year, the winner of Best of Show Beer will have the opportunity to brew their beer at Walter Payton's Roundhouse, the Menace of the Monastery champion will have the same opportunity at Govnor's Pub in Lake of the Hills, IL. The competition will be held on Saturday, March 11th, at Walter Payton's Roundhouse - America's Brewery, in Aurora IL, with Meads being judged as a separate location the night before. Entries will be accepted between February 20th thru March 4th. Please visit the competition website for additional information, forms, and on-line registration: http://www.knaves.org/dmc/ So, its also not too late to brew up a batch or two or three to enter. Cheers! Joe Formanek (Head Judge) -Urban Knaves of Grain www.knaves.org -Drunk Monk Challenge www.knaves.org/dmc